Pad for harness-saddles



(No Model.)

' G. A. SISSOIL PAD FOR HARNESS SADDLES. No. 343,'612. Patented June- 15, 1886.

N4 PETERS. Phntn-Lilho n her, Washingmn. n. c.

PATEN? CHARLES A. SISSON, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PAD FOR HARNESS-SADDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,612, dated June 15, 1886.

Application filed November 13, 1883. Renewed November 16,1885. Serial No. 183,045. (No model.)

To all whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES Ar SIssoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pads for Harness-Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and eflicient pad for harness-saddles, whereby the saddle can be easily adjusted to fit different-shaped backs of horses.

To this end the invention consists, essentially, in a pad composed of a plate of spring metal having one end loosely arranged in a loop on the under side of the saddle and its other end bent around and perforated at its extremity, through which the shank of the terret passes, a nut being arranged on the end of the terret-shank, which projects through the plate to securethe latter in position, all in such manner that the body of the plate between its ends stands at a distance from the under side of the saddle, and, being elastic, constitutes an efficient pad for elevating the central part of the saddle above the backbone of the animal, the pad-plate being adjustable longitudinally to adapt it to the varying shape or size of the backs of different animals.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of a harness-saddle illustrating my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, a detached perspective viewof one of the clastic pad-plates and the loop for guiding and retaining its free end.

Referring to the drawings, the number 1 indicates the saddle, which may be of any usual construction as regards form and ornamentation, and provided with skirts to extend around the body. The body of the saddle is preferably of light metal, and to the under side of the same at opposite points, below the terretrings 2, are secured'metallic or other suitable loops, 3 3. The pads are each composed of a thin plate, 4, of steel, which is elastic and has one end, 5, passed loosely through the guideloop 3, the other end of the plate being bent loosely around to form the short arm 6, between its body portion and the saddle, said arm having alongitudinal slot, 7, through which passes the shank 8 of the terret-ring, a nut, 10, being screwed upon the projecting end of the terretshank, whereby the bent arm of the pad-plate is securely clamped to the saddle. The padplate being suitably bent, its body portion intermediate its ends will stand at a considerable distance away from the saddle, leaving a free and unobstructed space, 11, between them, whereby the steel plate constitutes an elastic and readily-yielding support for sustaining the saddle above the back of the animal, and espe cially the central portion of the saddle above the backbone. The elastic pad-plate is not only secured in proper relative position by the shank of the terret-ring and the nut, but by the provision of the elongated slot in the reversely-bent arm 6 it can be adjusted along the saddle toward or from the center of the latter, where the check-hook is located, and more or less bent toward or from the saddle to adjust or accommodate the saddle to the varying or different shaped or sized backs of animals; and, further, the arrangement is very desirable where an animal has a galled back, as the saddle can be adjusted to stand entirely clear thereof.

The longitudinal adjustment of the steel pad-plate is easily and conveniently effected without detaching any part, it only being essential to slightly loosen the nut 10 on the terret-ring shank, when the loose arrangement of the plate in the guide-loop permits its ready adjustment, after which the nut is tightened up.

The pad-plate, constructed and arranged as described, is designed to rest directly upon the back of the animal on opposite sides of the backbone, and in order to provide for perfect ventilation I provide the plate between its ends with a large number of line perforations, 12, such perforated portion constituting the elastic bearing for the saddle.

Heretofore aharnesssaddle has been provided with springs, and such therefore is not broadly claimed by me.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with a harness-saddle, of bearing-pads therefor composed of elastic plates having one end loosely arranged in loops and the other ends bent around reversely and perforated, and secured by the shanks of end loosely arranged in one of the loops and the other end bent around and provided with a longitudinal slot, a terret having a shank l 5 passing through the saddle and the slotin the plate, and a nut applied to the shank for adjustably securing the plate in position, substantially as described.

CHAS. A. SISSON.

YVitnesses:

O. P. BRIGHTMAN, THos. M. JAMES. 

